Preview: Season Kicks Off As The Smoke Eaters Host The Vees In Weekend Doubleheader

The Trail Smoke Eaters open the regular season at home as interior division rivals the Penticton Vees come to town for a weekend doubleheader

It’s been 164 days since the Smoke Eaters were eliminated from the BCHL playoffs and tonight they welcome in the Vees as they kick off the 2019-20 BCHL season. This is the first of six meetings between the Smoke Eaters and the Vees this season. Last year the Smoke Eaters went 2-3-1 vs the Vees and were outscored 20-16.

Smoke Eaters vs. Vees 2019-20 Regular season schedule:

September 6th @ Trail Memorial Arena (7:00pm)

September 7th @ Trail Memorial Arena (7:00pm)

October 23rd @ South Okanagan Event Centre (6:30pm)

November 6th @ South Okanagan Event Centre (6:30pm)

January 10th @ Trail Memorial Arena (7:00pm)

January 11th @ South Okanagan Event Centre (6:30pm)

The Smoke Eaters kick off the 2019 season with five straight games at home and six-of-nine at home in the month of September. The Smoke Eaters have chance to gain some ground early in the interior division with such a run at home. Meanwhile the Vees kick off a 6 game road schedule to start their season and play 7 of 8 away from the SOEC during September. The won’t play on home ice until the 27th when they host the Warriors.

With a new season comes new players for either team and a long list of those players could be making BCHL debuts tonight.

For the Smoke Eaters they have 6 players possibly making their BCHL debut in Braden Costello, Liam Freeborn, Michael Colella, Connor Sweeney, Jackson Murphy-Johnson and Logan Terness. Also on the list is Smoke Eaters captain Phillippe Lapointe who has been sidelined to start the year with a LBI. Corey McCann, Jordan Hendry, Chase Dafoe, Walker Erickson and Colby Elmer all AP’d last year for the Smoke Eaters and are now preparing for their first full BCHL season. Corey Clifton who was acquired via trade from the Surrey Eagles will make his Smoke Eaters debut as well.

For the Vees, they find themselves in a similar position with limited returning players from the team that lost to Cowichan in the first round of the playoff last year. Like the Smoke Eaters, Penticton boasts a large NHL connection in their roster. With the likes of Danny Weight, Jackson Niedermayer, Lukas Sillinger and Tristan Amonte. They also bring with them 2018 first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers Jay O’Brien. Expect plenty of skill on display this weekend as both sides have a strong group of talented forwards.

Puck drop is 7pm in Trail as the Smoke Eaters look to start the season off on a high note. Tickets are $14 for adults, $5 for youth and kids 12 and under get in free. You can also catch the game on HockeyTV or Mixlr with Ben Phillips and Rob Squires starting at 6:50pm.